Speed of sound

From Glossary of Meteorology
(Redirected from Velocity of sound)



speed of sound

  1. (Also velocity of sound.) Usually taken to mean the phase speed of an acoustic (or sound) wave.

    In an ideal, stationary gas the speed of sound c is a thermodynamic property depending only on the equilibrium state of the gas and is given by
    ams2001glos-Se45
    where γ is the ratio of specific heat capacities, at constant pressure and volume, respectively; R is the gas constant; and T is absolute temperature.

  2. In seawater, a function of temperature, salinity, and pressure.


Copyright 2024 American Meteorological Society (AMS). For permission to reuse any portion of this work, please contact permissions@ametsoc.org. Any use of material in this work that is determined to be “fair use” under Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act (17 U.S. Code § 107) or that satisfies the conditions specified in Section 108 of the U.S.Copyright Act (17 USC § 108) does not require AMS’s permission. Republication, systematic reproduction, posting in electronic form, such as on a website or in a searchable database, or other uses of this material, except as exempted by the above statement, require written permission or a license from AMS. Additional details are provided in the AMS Copyright Policy statement.